Monday, December 7, 2009

Interviewing Rock Stars from Kazakhstan - Annie


Over the weekend, I was extremely lucky and totally amused to meet Mikhail, my new best friend from Kazakhstan. I was helping Antonio with some interviews for his blog, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a guy with a lone cameraman, who was lip-singing and dancing with the backdrop of the flashing lights of Times Square behind him. I thought that he might be shooting a music video, so I went over and introduced myself. I said, "Hi, I'm Annie, and I'm a Toilet Paper Ambassador. Are you famous?" Mikhail was absolutely thrilled to meet us, and said, "Why yes, I am Mikhail and I am from Shymkent. I am a rock musician, recording my music video here in New York!" I was trying to not think of the movie, Borat, but I couldn't help it.


I was really thrilled. How often in life would I get the opportunity to get paid to interview a musician

from Kazakhstan about toilets from around the world? I asked Mikhail about his favorite toilet, and he immediately told me about one in the capital city of Astana, which was imported from Japan. It had a heated seat, and buttons on the side with which you could control the temperature and pressure of the spray of water for cleaning afterward. (Sound familiar? If you have been reading my blog, you should already know all about these electronic toilets from Japan!) I'm not sure if this particular kind of fancy toilet is common in capital cities in Central Asia, or whether this is just a special toilet for politicians and rock musicians.


In any case, Mikhail then asked me and Antonio if we would dance on his music video. (I'm really not kidding.) So, we took off our overcoats to reveal our Charmin Brand Ambassador jackets and shirts and lapel pins… and we boogied down with Mikhail, right there in Times Square, as his cameraman rolled the camera. I really, really DO hope we make it onto his music video in Kazakhstan!


Check out this small segment of my interview with Mikhail… you can see that we were both very, very excited. (If you don't see the video, click the red link "Read More" to take a look!) Otherwise, please continue to send me your international bathroom anecdotes and stories. Email me at annie.thegoteam@gmail.com!


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